India showcased a clinical performance to beat hosts Sri Lanka by 34 runs and lift the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup title.
Batting first after winning the toss, India Under-19s posted a competitive 273 for eight in their 50 overs and then rode on its spinners fine bowling effort to bowl out Sri Lanka Under-19 to 239 in 48.4 overs at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Prithvi Shaw (39) and Himanshu Rana shared a solid 67-run opening partnership. Rana, who had scored a fifty and a century in the league stages, continued his great form to notch up 71. He was given good support by Shubhman Gill, who smashed 70 and shared 88-run stand for the second wicket.
At 203/2, India were staring at a total of over 300 but some disciplined bowling from the Sri Lankans resulted in just 70 runs in the last 10 overs. Nipun Ransika and Praveen Jayawickrama picked up three wickets each as India ended up on 273/8.
For Sri Lanka Under-19s, pacer Nipun Ransika (3/50) and left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama (3/53) shared six wickets between them.
Chasing 274 runs for win, Sri Lanka Under-19s lost opener Vishva Chathuranga (13) early before Reven Kelly (62) and Hasitha Boyagoda (37) stabilised their chase with a 78-run second wicket stand.
Skipper Kamindu Mendis (53) also made half-century for the Lankans in the losing cause. The hosts at one stage were in control of the chase at 196 for four in 37.4 overs. As the match progressed, Sri Lankan lost the plot in the last 10 overs as their last six batsmen could contribute just 43 runs.
Abhishek Sharma (4/37) produced a brilliant display of slow left-arm orthodox bowling and was assisted by leggie Rahul Chahar, who returned with impressive figures of three for 22 from his quota of 10 overs to dismantle the Lankans.
Brief Scores: India 273/8 (Rana 71, Gill 70; Ransika 3/50) beat Sri Lanka 239 by 34 runs (Kelly 62, Mendis 53; Sharma 4/37).
Man of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
Man of the Series: Himanshu Rana
